KevinUrie
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"In a press release on Monday morning, Audi confirmed three things. Thing one, it would be entering the Dakar Rally in 2022 with a brand new factory-effort plug-in hybrid electric buggy. Thing two, it would be kicking off a new top-class sports car effort in IMSA and the WEC with a factory-built LMDh starting in 2022. Thing three, it would be leaving Formula E as a factory effort at the end of season seven next summer. Any one of those would be world-rocking admissions in the motorsport arena, but all three at once is a really big deal. Audi is completely changing tack on its racing future, and making it happen in quick time."
"As for the company’s Dakar efforts, this is a complete fly ball out of left field, or whatever the sports analogy is. This was a surprise to everyone, possibly including some at Audisport. This is a first-time effort for the brand, and it will be done with what Audi calls “an electric drivetrain with a high-voltage battery and a highly efficient energy converter” which I assume means it’ll have electric drive with a range-extending gasoline engine. Little is known about the program right now, but Audi says “Cross-country rallying will be the spearhead of the factory motorsport commitment in the future,” which bodes well for the program lasting a long time and ranging beyond just Dakar."
Audi Is Shaping Its Motorsport Future Around Le Mans And Dakar Efforts (jalopnik.com)
Should be good for Dakar but another factory needs to get involved to give them some competition unless Toyota decides to get serious.
"As for the company’s Dakar efforts, this is a complete fly ball out of left field, or whatever the sports analogy is. This was a surprise to everyone, possibly including some at Audisport. This is a first-time effort for the brand, and it will be done with what Audi calls “an electric drivetrain with a high-voltage battery and a highly efficient energy converter” which I assume means it’ll have electric drive with a range-extending gasoline engine. Little is known about the program right now, but Audi says “Cross-country rallying will be the spearhead of the factory motorsport commitment in the future,” which bodes well for the program lasting a long time and ranging beyond just Dakar."
Audi Is Shaping Its Motorsport Future Around Le Mans And Dakar Efforts (jalopnik.com)
Should be good for Dakar but another factory needs to get involved to give them some competition unless Toyota decides to get serious.